High tidal volume (VT) ventilation (HTVV) induces pulmonary inflammation. The time course of pulmonary and systemic HTVV-induced vascular dysfunction is unknown. We tested whether rats receiving HTVV survive the insult, and we describe the time-course of the HTVV-induced vascular changes.

Normal anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were tracheostomized and ventilated for 1 hour with either VT = 9 ml/kg + PEEP 5 cmH2O, or VT = 35 ml/kg + ZEEP. After the HTVV period, the tracheostomy was closed, and rats were sent back to their cages breathing room air. Other rats were sacrificed at this point in time (t = 1 hour). Rats surviving the acute period of HTVV were again intubated, monitored and then sacrificed at different points in time (24 hours, 72 hours, 168 hours). We measured the mean arterial pressure, aortic blood flow (QAo), arterial blood gases, and total protein, AST, ALT, IL-6, and VEGF serum and BAL fluid concentrations. Aortic segments and pulmonary micro vessels were mounted in myographs, and responses to acetylcholine in norepinehrine-precontracted rings were tested. Histological lung changes were studied.